the virgin of the sun-第16节

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answered　because　the　sun　was　his　god　and　his　people　were　Sun…
worshippers。　I　reminded　him　that　he　had　said　that　a　certain　Pachacamac
whose　image　he　wore　about　his　neck　was　his　god。　To　this　he　replied：

〃Yes；　Pachacamac　is　the　god　above　gods；　the　Creator；　the　Spirit　of　the
World；　but　the　Sun　is　his　visible　house　and　raiment　that　all　may　see
and　worship；〃　a　saying　that　I　thought　had　truth　in　it；　seeing　that　all
Nature　is　the　raiment　of　God。

I　tried　to　instruct　him　in　our　faith；　but　although　he　listened
patiently　and　I　think　understood；　he　would　not　become　a　Christian；
making　it　very　plain　to　me　that　he　thought　that　a　man　should　live　and
die　in　the　religion　in　which　he　was　born　and　that　from　what　he　saw　in
London　he　did　not　hold　that　Christians　were　any　better　than　those　who
worshipped　the　sun　and　the　great　spirit；　Pachacamac。　So　I　abandoned
this　attempt；　although　there　was　danger　to　him　while　he　remained　a
heathen。　Indeed　twice　or　thrice　the　priests　made　inquiry　concerning
his　faith；　being　curious　as　to　all　that　had　to　do　with　him。　However；　I
silenced　them　by　pretending　that　I　was　instructing　him　as　well　as　I
was　able　and　that　as　yet　he　did　not　know　enough　English　to　hearken　to
their　holy　expositions。　Also　when　they　became　persistent　I　made　gifts
to　the　monasteries　to　which　they　belonged；　or　if　they　were　parish
priests；　then　to　their　cur閟　or　churches。

Still　I　was　troubled　about　this　matter；　for　some　of　these　priests　were
very　fierce　and　intolerant；　and　I　was　sure　that　in　time　they　would
push　the　business　further。

One　more　thing　I　noticed　about　Kari；　namely；　that　he　shrank　from　women
and　indeed　seemed　to　hate　them。　The　maids　who　had　remained　with　me
since　my　uncle's　death　noticed　this；　by　nature　as　it　were；　and　in
revenge　would　not　serve　him。　The　end　of　it　was　that；　fearing　lest　they
should　do　him　some　evil　turn　with　the　priests　or　otherwise；　I　sent
them　away　and　hired　men　to　take　their　place。　This　distaste　of　Kari　for
women　I　set　down　to　all　that　he　had　suffered　at　the　hands　of　his　false
and　beautiful　wife　not　wrongly　as　I　think。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　V

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　COMING　OF　BLANCHE

One　day；　it　was　the　last　of　the　year；　the　anniversary　of　the　death　of
my　uncle　whose　goodness　and　wisdom　I　pondered　on　more　and　more　as　time
went　by；　having　a　little　time　to　spare　from　larger　affairs；　I　chanced
to　be　in　the　shop　in　the　front　of　the　house；　which；　as　John　Grimmer
had　said；　he　kept　as　a　trap　to　〃snare　the　ladybirds；〃　and　I　continued；
because　I　knew　that　he　would　not　wish　that　anything　should　be　changed。
Here　I　was　pleasing　myself　by　looking　over　such　pieces　as　we　had　to
sell　which　the　head　craftsman　was　showing　to　me；　since　myself　I　knew
little　of　them；　except　as　a　matter　of　account。

Whilst　I　was　thus　engaged　there　entered　the　shop　a　very　fine　lady
accompanied　by　a　still　finer　lordling　arrayed　so　similarly　that；　at
first　sight；　in　their　hooded　ermine　cloaks　it　was　difficult　to　know
which　was　man　and　which　was　woman。　When　they　threw　these　aside；
however；　for　the　shop　was　warm　after　the　open　air；　I　knew　more　than
that；　since　with　a　sudden　stoppage　of　the　heart　I　saw　before　me　none
other　than　the　lady　Blanche　Aleys　and　her　relative；　the　lord　Deleroy。

She；　who　in　the　old　days　of　the　Hastings　burnings　had　been　but　a　lily
bud；　was　now　an　open　flower　and　beautiful　exceedingly；　indeed　in　her
own　fashion　the　most　beautiful　woman　that　ever　I　beheld。　Tall　she　was
and　stately　as　a　lily　bloom；　white　as　a　lily　also；　save　for　those
wondrous　blue　eyes　over　which　curled　the　dark　lashes。　In　shape；　too；
she　was　perfect；　full…breasted；　yet　not　too　full；　small…waisted；　and
with　delicate　limbs；　a　very　Venus；　such　an　one　as　I　had　seen　in
ancient　marble　brought　in　a　ship　from　Italy　and　given；　as　I　believe；
to　the　King；　who　loved　such　things；　to　be　set　up　in　his　palace。

My　lord　also　was　yet　handsomer　than　he　had　been；　more　set　and　manly；
though　still　he　affected　his　coxcomb　party…coloured　dress　with　the
turned…up　shoes　of　which　the　points　were　fastened　by　little　golden
chains　beneath　the　knee。　Still　he　was　a　fine　man　with　his　roving　black
eyes；　his　loose　mouth　and　little　pointed　beard　from　which；　as　from　his
hair；　came　an　odour　of　scents。　Seeing　me　in　my　merchant's　gown；　for　I
remained　mindful　of　my　uncle's　advice　as　regards　attire；　he　spoke　to
me　as　great　men　do　to　shop…keepers。

〃Well　met；　Goldsmith；〃　he　said　in　his　round；　well…trained　voice；　〃I
would　make　a　new…year　gift　to　the　lady　here；　and　I　am　told　that　you
have　plate…wares　of　the　best；　gold　cups　and　jewels　of　rich　and　rare
design；　stamped　all　of　them　with　the　image　of　the　sun　which　one　would
wish　to　remember　on　such　a　day　as　this。　But　hearken；　let　John　Grimmer
himself　come　to　serve　me　for　I　would　treat　with　no　underlings；　or　take
me　to　him　where　he　is。〃

Now　I　bowed　before　him；　rubbing　my　hands；　and　answered；　for　so　the
humour　led　me：　〃Then　I　fear　that　I　must　take　my　lord　farther　than　my
lord　would　wish　to　travel　just　at　present；　though　who　knows？
Perchance；　like　the　rest　of　us；　he　may　take　that　journey　sooner　than
he　thinks。〃

Now　at　the　sound　of　my　voice　I　saw　the　lady　Blanche　stare　at　me；
trying　to　catch　sight　of　my　face　beneath　the　hood　which　I　wore　on　this
cold　day；　while　Deleroy　started　and　said　briefly：

〃Your　meaning？〃

〃It　is　plain；　my　lord。　John　Grimmer　is　dead　and　I　know　not　where　he
dwells　at　present　since　he　took　that　secret　with　him。　But　I；　who
unworthily　carry　on　his　trade；　am　at　your　lordship's　service。〃

Then　I　turned　and　bade　the　shopman　command　Kari　to　come　hither　and
bring　with　him　the　choicest　of　our　cups　and　jewels。

He　went　and　I　busied　myself　in　setting　stools　for　these　noble
customers　to　rest　on　before　the　fire。　As　I　did　so　by　chance　my　hand
touched　that　of　the　lady　Blanche；　whereat　once　more　she　strove　to　peer
beneath　my　hood。　It　was　as　though　the　nature　in　her　knew　that　touch
again；　as　by　some　instinct　every　woman　does；　if　once　the　toucher's
lips　have　been　near　her　own；　though　it　be　long　ago。　But　I　only　turned
my　head　away　and　drew　that　hood　the　closer。

Now　Kari　came　and　with　him　the　shopman；　bearing　the　precious　wares。
Kari　wore　a　wool…lined　robe；　very　plain；　which　yet　became　him　so　well
that　with　his　fine…cut　face　and　flashing　eyes　he　looked　like　an
Eastern　prince　disguised。　At　him　this　fine　pair　stared；　for　never　had
they　seen　such　a　man；　but　taking　no　note；　with　many　bows　he　showed　the
jewels　one　by　one。　Among　these　was　a　gem　of　great　value；　a　large；
heart…shaped　ruby　that　Kari　had　set　in　a　surround　of　twisted　golden
serpents　with　heads　raised　to　strike　and　little　eyes　of　diamonds。　Upon
this　brooch　the　lady　Blanche　fixed　her　gaze　and　discarding　all　others；
began　to　play　with　it；　till　at　length　the　lord　Deleroy　asked　the
price。　I　consulted　with　Kari；　explaining　that　myself　I　did　not　handle
this　branch　of　my　business；　then　named　it　carelessly；　it　was　a　great
sum。

〃God's　truth！　Blanche；〃　said　Deleroy；　〃this　merchant　thinks　I　am　made
of　gold。　You　must　choose　a　cheaper　ornament　for　your　new　year's　gift；
or　he　will　have　to　wait　for　payment。〃

〃Which　mayhap　I　should　be　willing　to　do　from　one　of　your　quality；　my
lord；〃　I　interrupted；　bowing。

He　looked　at　me　and　said：

〃Can　I　have　a　word　apart　with　you；　merchant？〃

Again　I　bowed　and　led　him　to　the　eating…room　where　he　gazed　about　him；
amazed　at　the　richness　of　the　furnishings。　He　sat　him　down　upon　a
carven　chair　while　I　stood　before　him　humbly　and　waited。

〃I　am　told；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃that　John　Grimmer　did　other　business
besides　that　of　selling　jewels。〃

〃Yes；　my　lord；　some　foreign　trade。〃

〃And　some　home　trade　also。　I　mean　that　he　lent　money。〃

〃At　times；　my　lord；　and　on　good　security；　if　he　chanced　to　have　any　at
command；　and　at　a　certain　interest。　Perhaps　my　lord　will　come　to　his
point。〃

〃It　is　short　and　clear。　Those　of　us　who　are　at　Court　always　want　money
where　it　is　needful　if　we　would　have　advancement　and　earn　the　royal
favour　of　one　who　does　not　pay；　at　least　in　gold。〃

〃Be　pleased　to　state　the　amount　and　the　security　offered；　my　lord。〃

He　did　so。　The　sum　was　high　and　the　security　was　bad。

〃Are　there　any　who　would　stand　surety　for　my　lord？〃

〃Yes；　one　of　great　estate；　Sir　Robert　Aleys；　who　has　wide　lands　in
Sussex。〃

〃I　have　heard　the　name；　and　if　my　lord　will　bid　his　lawyers　put　the
matter　in　writing；　I　will　cause　the　lands　to　be　valued　and　give　an
answer　as　quickly　as　may　be。〃

〃For　a　young　man　you　are　careful；　merchant。〃

〃Alas！　such　as　I　need　to　be　who　must　guard　our　small　earnings　in　these
troublous　times　of　war　and　tumult。　Such　a　sum　as　you　speak　of　would
take　all　that　John　Grimmer　and　I　have　laid　by　after　years　of　toil。〃

Again　he　looked　at　the　furnishings　of　the　room　and　shrugged　his
shoulders；　then　said：

〃Good；　it　shall　be　done　for　the　need　is　urgent。　To　whom　is　the　letter
to　be　sent？〃

〃To　John　Grimmer；　at　the　Boat　House；　Cheapside。〃

〃But　you　told　me　that　John　Grimmer　was　dead。〃

〃And　so　he　is；　my　lord；　but　his　name　remains。〃

Then　we　returned　to　the　sop　and　as　we　went　I　said；

〃If　your　lordship's　lady　should　set　her　heart　upon　the　ruby　the　cost
of　it　can　stand　over　a　while；　since